WOODLAND — The trial of a former California Highway Patrol officer accused of domestic violence is at risk of proceeding without one of the prosecution’s key witnesses — the case’s alleged victim.
Armando Ortega’s estranged wife walked into visiting Yolo Superior Court Judge Stephen Mock’s courtroom Monday and informed him she would not be taking the stand during the trial, which was scheduled to begin that day.
“I refuse to testify,” said the woman, whose name The Enterprise is withholding because she is an alleged crime victim. She spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, accompanied by her attorney Steven Sabbadini.
Under questioning by Mock, the woman said she understood her refusal amounted to being in contempt of court, and because of it she could be subjected to sanctions.
Judge David Reed stood short of finding the woman in contempt last year, when she also refused to testify at Ortega’s preliminary hearing. Instead, Reed referred her to the Yolo County Probation Department, which ordered her to attend counseling services at Empower Yolo, a local organization that provides services to domestic violence and sexual assault victims.
Mock also held off on a contempt finding for now, rescheduling Ortega’s trial to begin on Feb. 8 and ordering the woman to choose from one of two options in the meantime: receive additional counseling from Empower Yolo, or complete 48 hours of community service. She opted for counseling.
“I want (her) to fully appreciate the consequences of the situation,” Mock said.
Sabbadini declined to comment following Monday’s court hearing.
Ortega, 44, has pleaded not guilty to the allegations against him, which arose on Aug. 28, 2014, when Woodland police officers responded to reports of an altercation that had occurred earlier in the day at the couple’s Farnham Avenue home.
Officers took Ortega into custody on suspicion of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. He remains free on bail but has not worked for the CHP since February 2015, agency spokeswoman Fran Clader said Tuesday. She could not specify whether he was terminated or resigned.
— Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net or 530-747-8048. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene